Provincial groups say they want carbon tax exemptions, more research funding and improved international trade
Alberta farm leaders are congratulating Premier-designate Jason Kenney for his election win, hoping the new United Conservative Party government will work with them on key issues. Team Alberta, which represents the province’s main crop commissions, said in a news release last week it wants to collaborate with the UCP government on improving international trade, enhancing […] Read moreTag Archives Alberta election
Alberta Party focuses on research, value-added
Farmers can expect an elected Alberta Party government to tweak farm safety legislation, as well as kickstart a fund to bolster research. The party’s agriculture platform, released April 8, says the party aims to grow Alberta’s agriculture industry by $1 billion through new programs and policies. The Alberta Party said it would create an agriculture […] Read more
Farmers want assurances on crude-by-rail plan
Farm leaders are still wary of Alberta’s plans to move more oil by rail, hoping whoever wins the election will be able to prove grain movement won’t be affected. The deal, which would see the province move 120,000 barrels per day by mid-2020 with smaller shipments beginning in July, came up during the campaign last […] Read more
Landowners want action on abandoned wells
Political parties spend little time during the election campaign talking about how to deal with growing problem
BAWLF, Alta. — Bill Leithead stops beside an abandoned oil well site near his home in Camrose County, lamenting the problems the industry has caused for farmers over the past few years. The site is on land owned by his neighbours, Larry and Linda Nikiforuk, who happened to drive by as Leithead discussed the challenges. […] Read more
Alberta rancher defies history to run for NDP
Fourth generation producer Cam Gardner says choice of party based largely on admiration for Premier Rachel Notley
Cam Gardner is a self-described unicorn. As a fourth-generation southern Alberta rancher in a region that has elected right-of-centre candidates for 50 years, he is running as the NDP candidate for Livingstone Macleod in the provincial election. It makes him a rarity. The constituency stretches from north of High River, west to the British Columbia […] Read more
Alta. leaders debate rife with attacks, but no clear winner
Alberta party leaders offered their best sales pitches last night to lure voters, but it’s clear no one came out on top as the true winner. The leaders debate largely saw NDP Leader Rachel Notley and UCP Leader Jason Kenney attack one another’s platforms, though they occasionally explained their visions for the province. The leaders […] Read more
Carbon tax remains thorny subject in Alberta
Most farmers are opposed to the levy because they consider it a cash grab, but a few say they don’t mind paying it
Jordan Schuurman has a different take than most farmers on Alberta’s carbon tax. The Edmonton-area dairy farmer doesn’t mind paying the levy, but he makes it clear he’s no environmental activist and is generally wary of government programs. But, he said, his solar panels that were partly funded by the contentious tax have been helpful […] Read more
Farmers’ election issues include farm safety, carbon tax, research
Alberta farm leaders’ wish list for the next provincial government is lengthy, yet they all speak of more money for research, better market access, concerns over current farm safety legislation and the impacts of the carbon tax on their ability to compete. Dave Bishop Alberta Barley Commission chair Barley growers want to grow their business, […] Read more
Farmers pitch better research collaboration
Alberta producer groups are hoping whichever party comes into power this April will better collaborate with farmers on research, making the issue one of their top priorities this election campaign. Leaders say they are concerned research could be headed in the wrong direction, pointing to recent changes in government policy, decreased funding and the disbanding […] Read more
Alberta election roundup: Week 2 focuses on social issues rather than jobs and pipelines
The second week of Alberta’s election campaign featured an array of high-dollar commitments from the NDP, though the United Conservative Party had its fair share of spending plans to address the province’s social issues. NDP leader Rachel Notley so far has pledged to spend roughly $4.5 billion over a number of years, notably $1.5 billion […] Read more
